Ophthalmic lens disinfecting base

Abstract

The present invention provides for a disinfecting radiation base for working in conjunction with a storage case for an ophthalmic lens. The disinfecting radiation base provides disinfecting radiation for disinfecting an ophthalmic lens. The disinfecting radiation base may also include a processor and digital memory for automated functions associated with the base.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A base for receiving an ophthalmic lens storage case for storing one or more ophthalmic lenses, the base comprising:
 a receptacle for receiving an ophthalmic lens storage case, wherein said storage case is removable from said receptacle and said storage container includes a removable cap attached to said storage case by a fastening mechanism, wherein said removable cap seals off an ambient atmosphere from a storage compartment with the case and wherein said storage case further comprises an alignment artifact; 
 an electronic circuit mounted on said base, wherein said electronic circuit is capable of controlling a predetermined cycle time of radiation exposure; 
 a source of disinfecting radiation providing disinfecting radiation to an ophthalmic lens storage compartment in the ophthalmic lens storage case, wherein the disinfecting radiation is capable of permeating the ophthalmic lens storage case and disinfecting an ophthalmic lens stored therein, and wherein said source is controlled by the electronic circuit; and wherein said cap includes a radiation window for directing and focusing disinfecting radiation towards an ophthalmic lens stored in the storage case. 
 
     
     
       2. The base of  claim 1  additionally comprising a reflective surface for reflecting disinfecting radiation towards ophthalmic lens storage compartment. 
     
     
       3. The base of  claim 1  additionally comprising a complementary alignment artifact for aligning the source of disinfecting radiation with the ophthalmic lens storage compartment, wherein the complementary alignment artifact is capable of fitting with the alignment artifact included on the storage case. 
     
     
       4. The base of  claim 3  wherein the complementary alignment mechanism comprises an alignment post. 
     
     
       5. The base of  claim 1  further comprises one or more sources of disinfecting radiation. 
     
     
       6. The base of  claim 5  wherein the one or more sources of disinfecting radiation comprise an ultraviolet emitting diode. 
     
     
       7. The base of  claim 6  wherein the ultraviolet emitting diode emit radiation in a frequency of between 250 nanometers and 280 nanometers. 
     
     
       8. The base of  claim 1  wherein the emitted disinfecting radiation is sufficient kill an organism on an ophthalmic lens stored in the storage compartment. 
     
     
       9. A base for receiving an ophthalmic lens storage case for storing one or more ophthalmic lenses, the base comprising:
 a receptacle for receiving an ophthalmic lens storage case, wherein said storage case is removable from said receptacle and said storage container includes a removable cap attached to said storage case by a fastening mechanism, wherein said removable cap seals off an ambient atmosphere from a storage compartment with the case and wherein said storage case further comprises an alignment artifact; 
 an electronic circuit mounted on said base, wherein said electronic circuit is capable of controlling a predetermined cycle time of radiation exposure; and 
 a source of disinfecting radiation providing disinfecting radiation to an ophthalmic lens storage compartment in the ophthalmic lens storage case, wherein the disinfecting radiation is capable of permeating the ophthalmic lens storage case and disinfecting an ophthalmic lens stored therein, and wherein said source is controlled by the electronic circuit; and 
 wherein said cap includes a radiation window for directing and focusing disinfecting radiation towards an ophthalmic lens stored in the storage case, wherein the electronic circuit additionally comprises a processor for controlling the generation of disinfecting radiation. 
 
     
     
       10. The base of  claim 9  wherein a time period that a disinfecting radiation is provided is based upon a logical control signal generated by the processor. 
     
     
       11. The base of  claim 9  wherein an intensity at which a disinfecting radiation is provided is based upon a logical control signal generated by the processor. 
     
     
       12. The base of  claim 9  additionally comprising an audio component operative to provide an audio signal based upon operation of the source of disinfecting radiation. 
     
     
       13. The base of  claim 9  additionally comprising a display for displaying a status of a disinfecting process based upon digital data transmitted by the processor. 
     
     
       14. The base of  claim 9  additionally comprising a digital storage for storing information related to a disinfecting process. 
     
     
       15. A base for receiving an ophthalmic lens storage case for storing one or more ophthalmic lenses, the base comprising:
 a receptacle for receiving an ophthalmic lens storage case, wherein said storage case is removable from said receptacle and said storage container includes a removable cap attached to said storage case by a fastening mechanism, wherein said removable cap seals off an ambient atmosphere from a storage compartment with the case and wherein said storage case further comprises an alignment artifact; 
 an electronic circuit mounted on said base, wherein said electronic circuit is capable of controlling a predetermined cycle time of radiation exposure; 
 a source of disinfecting radiation providing disinfecting radiation to an ophthalmic lens storage compartment in the ophthalmic lens storage case, wherein the disinfecting radiation is capable of permeating the ophthalmic lens storage case and disinfecting an ophthalmic lens stored therein, and wherein said source is controlled by the electronic circuit; and wherein said cap includes a radiation window for directing and focusing disinfecting radiation towards an ophthalmic lens stored in the storage case; and additionally comprising a vibration generation device for providing mechanical movement to a storage case placed in the storage base. 
 
     
     
       16. The base of  claim 15  wherein the vibration generation device comprises a piezoelectric mechanism. 
     
     
       17. The base of  claim 15  wherein the piezoelectric mechanism is operated based upon a logical signal generated by a processor. 
     
     
       18. The base of  claim 14  additionally comprising a universal serial bus connector for providing logical communication between one, or both of: the processor and the digital storage; and personal processing device. 
     
     
       19. The base of  claim 14  additionally comprising a universal serial bus connector for providing an electrical current for operating the storage base. 
     
     
       20. The base of  claim 1  additionally comprising an electrical storage for storing power to operate the storage base. 
     
     
       21. The base of  claim 20  wherein the electrical storage comprises one or more rechargeable batteries. 
     
     
       22. The base of  claim 21  wherein the electrical storage comprises one or more lithium ion batteries. 
     
     
       23. The base of  claim 10  wherein a pattern of radiation is based upon a signal from the processor.